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<\/p>\nYou won\u2019t find Jackson Hawes\u2019 name lighting up fantasy football boards, but ask any offensive coordinator what wins games in December, and they\u2019ll tell you: physicality, grit, and blocking. That\u2019s exactly what the Buffalo Bills got when they selected Georgia Tech tight end Jackson Hawes with the 173rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
A Georgia Tech Anchor Turns Pro<\/p>\n
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After transferring from Yale and anchoring the edge for Georgia Tech in 2024, Hawes quickly became one of the most respected blocking tight ends in the ACC. At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, the 24-year-old carved out a role not through flashy stats, but with consistent, punishing play at the line. In 12 games, he caught just 16 passes for 195 yards\u2014but his blocking earned him a 74.7 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. That\u2019s what got Buffalo\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n
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Former Georgia Tech tight end during blocking drills at the NFL Combine\u00a9 Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
The Fit in Buffalo<\/p>\n
The Bills didn\u2019t need another pass-catching tight end with Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox already in the room. What they lacked was a true Y-tight end who could open lanes for Josh Allen\u2019s run game and protect in heavy sets. \u201cHe\u2019s going to move folks in the run game,\u201d one analyst noted, and that\u2019s exactly the plan. Hawes is a plug-and-play TE3 who could make the 53-man roster on his blocking alone\u2014and maybe contribute on special teams, too.<\/p>\n
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From the Flats to the League<\/p>\n
Georgia Tech fans watched Hawes grow from a steady transfer into a cornerstone of the Yellow Jackets\u2019 run game. His style doesn\u2019t show up in highlight reels, but teammates and coaches knew how crucial he was. \u201cHe\u2019s the guy doing the dirty work,\u201d said one Georgia Tech assistant. \u201cThat\u2019s who Jackson is.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Tech fans, Hawes\u2019 selection is a badge of honor. It\u2019s proof that toughness, intelligence, and fundamentals still matter at the next level. Bookmark this name. He may not be the flashiest draft pick, but he could be one of the most important.<\/p>\n
Georgia Tech built him. Buffalo\u2019s banking on him.<\/p>\n